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Two Filipino seafarers killed, 2 others injured in Houthi missile attack- DMW
Two Filipino seafarers killed, 2 others injured in Houthi missile attack- DMW
Two Filipino seafarers died in the most recent missile attack by Houthi rebels on ships plying the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday, March 7.
The two Filipinos were among the three seafarers killed when the Greek-flagged vessel True Confidence was hit by a missile and eventually set the ship on fire.
Other seafarers, including at least 13 more Filipinos were forced to abandon ship as a result of the attack.
“With great sadness, the Department of Migrant Workers confirms the deaths of two Filipino seafarers in the most recent attack by Houthi rebels on ships plying the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the DMW statement read.
“We were also informed that two other Filipino crewmen were severely injured in the attack on their ship. We pray for their immediate recovery,” it added.
The DMW, however, did not release the names of the two fatalities and the two other injured due to privacy.
The DMW said President Marcos has already issued an instruction to extend all the necessary support to the Filipino seafarers who died and were injured as a result of the attack.
The DMW said it has already coordinated with the ship’s manning agency and shipowner to ascertain the conditions of the rest of the ship’s crew, particularly the remaining Filipino crew members.
“The DMW has coordinated with the principal shipowner and manning agency to work on the repatriation of the remaining Filipino crew members,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the DMW reiterated its call to shipowners with ships navigating the volatile Red Sea – Gulf of Aden sea lanes to comply strictly with the expanded “high risk areas” designation and to implement appropriate risk mitigation measures, such as rerouting vessels and deploying armed security personnel onboard such vessels.
Last year, 17 Filipino seafarers were among those held hostage by Houthi rebels when they seized a cargo ship in the Red Sea.
“The DMW also calls for continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and to address the causes of the current conflict in the Middle East,” the department said.